Budgam, July 10 (JKNS): Amid growing outrage over rampant illegal excavation and mining across several areas of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, District Mineral Officer (DMO) Budgam on Thursday clarified that no official permission has been granted for any excavation or mining activity in the district.
Speaking to news agency JKNS, the DMO said, “There is no permission granted anywhere in the district. These people are working illegally, and strict action will be taken against them.”
This statement comes in the wake of reports of widespread, unauthorized mining operations being carried out in areas such as Chadoora, Beerwa KhanSahib, Jawalapora, and Sholipora. Residents and activists have accused certain contractors of engaging in large-scale excavation using heavy machinery mostly during the night causing serious environmental degradation and damaging public infrastructure.
Locals told JKNS that the unregulated mining is severely impacting agricultural land, choking irrigation canals, and creating health hazards due to dust and air pollution. “Our lands are vanishing, and our children are getting sick from the constant dust,” said a resident from Chadoora.
Environmentalists have also warned that the region’s fragile terrain faces long-term damage due to unchecked soil erosion, with possible implications for groundwater levels and landslide risks.
Despite repeated complaints, locals allege that departments including Revenue, Geology & Mining, and Pollution Control have remained silent on the matter.
Citizens have called for immediate intervention, strict legal action, and a halt to all illegal operations, demanding transparency and accountability from the district administration before irreversible damage is done. (JKNS)
